Ford today announced the Atlas Concept, which features next-generation EcoBoost technology. The Atlas Concept has an EcoBoost powertrain that uses gasoline direct injection turbocharging. This allows for a 20 percent increase in fuel economy and a 15 percent drop in CO2 emissions. The powertrain also features Auto Start-Stop engine shutoff tech, which (as the name suggests), shuts off the engine when the vehicle is stopped in traffic.

The Atlas Concept also looks to save fuel in other ways, such as the Active Grille Shutters that stay open when cooling is needed; Active Wheel Shutters that close at highway speeds to improve aerodynamics but open at slow speeds; Drop-Down Front Air Dam that lowers at highway speeds for underbody airflow, and Power Running Boards that help passengers enter the truck at rest and move closer to the vehicle when it's traveling for improved aerodynamics.

Using all of these fuel-saving technologies saves roughly 2 MPG on the highway.

In addition to fuel-saving efforts, Ford showed off some other tech that the Atlas is sporting. Some include the 360-Degree Point-of-View Camera for fitting the vehicle in tight places, Dynamic Hitch Assist for an accurate fitting of a hitch using the Atlas' display screen, and LED headlamps and tail lamps for better illumination.

“We wanted the concept to reflect how Ford trucks help customers in both their worlds – professionally and personally,” said J Mays, Ford group vice president and chief creative officer. “Every surface and feature in the vehicle has been crafted for purpose and capability while retaining an unmistakable Built Ford Tough look.”

Last year, it was reported that the F-150 would shed 700 lbs to meet the EPA's Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. These standards stipulate that auto manufacturers meet a fleetwide 54.5 mpg CAFE average by 2025.

The weight savings come from using the lightweight metal aluminum throughout the vehicle, such as the doors, cargo box, fenders, front suspension/steering components, and portions of the interior structure.

Obama and the EPA should be strung up by their thumbs for the terrible energy and emission policies that are forcing on the people in the U.S. where we have the most outrageous Diesel emissions standards, tax credits and tax payer subsidies for impractical EV's, mandated 15% ethanol to enrich a few in the corn belt while damaging engines and increasing the price of all highway use fuels and mandated mpg figures that no car maker in the world can meet without selling EVs and other products that tax payers are unfairly forced to subsidize even though they are BAD products for consumers, in many ways.

So you would rather breath the air of say Bejing? Or watch sea level rise to the streets of lower Manhattan? Sorry, but I've been around long enough to remember the summer smog of the 70s, caused primarily by auto traffic. Now there is twice as many vehicles on the road and the air is significantly cleaner. That would not have happened without EPA regulation. Think of how much it would cost the average American to fuel their vehicles if the average mileage was still say 15 mpg? How much oil would we have to import then? Thanks to the EPA and NTSB we have increased our mileage significantly since the bygone days of the OPEC embargo. Balancing regulation and the free market isn't always easy, but if the goals are noble and good for all, then it is worth the effort.

There is no arguing that EVs are not as practical currently. But there are applications where they are clearly the way to go. A large portion of our populous want the cleaner, quieter, and simpler transportation that EVs can provide. The subsidies nurturing the fledgling technology so as to get the technology mature enough to fulfill it's promise. A more energy independent, cleaner, and more forward thinking US. That is a primary plank of the platform that the majority of Americans voted for in the last two elections. I would never suggest that the dinosaurs who would have us repeat the mistakes of the past be strung up by their thumbs, but I would say, lead, follow, or get out of the way. We are moving forward.

I have no problems with some of the pollution measures that were enacted, and those were obvious and welcomed by most people. But the moving force behind quickly increasing fuel economy during the oil embargo era was financial. It was the perfect example of letting the market drive changes, once people wanted fuel efficient cars they were built.

As far as the recent election saying that a majority of people are for the subsidies for EVs and such, that is doubtful. Not everyone who voted for the current administration wants those things, and that majority was a very thin one overall. I would guess many people who voted for Obama don't have any interest at all in EVs or Ethanol fuel or even wind or solar. When you have between 8% and 10% of the US population unemployed, most are thinking about inexpensive efficient vehicles more than the expensive EV and Hybrid and other expensive types of fuel efficient vehicles. What is so wrong with the current way government is trying to move to fuel efficient vehicles makes no sense, subsidizing some of the most expensive technology instead of the least expensive ones. If 50% of people are listed in the lower income range, then that is where you should be focusing on selling efficient vehicles. Why should the poor be the ones forced to drive the less fuel efficient vehicles when they are the ones who can least likely afford the fuel? A $7500 tax credit applied to small fuel efficient vehicles in the $20k price range would do more to decrease the amount of fuel burned each year than the current subsidy placed on high end expensive EVs. If I could purchase something like a Nissan Versa or Ford Fiesta that would be near $10k to $15k after the tax credit I would certainly begin to think about getting a second more efficient vehicle to drive to work. It just shows that the current policy from the administration is more focused on promoting a fledgling immature technology than working to "save the planet" by taking the fastest way to reducing fuel consumption across the board.